Nanye'hi: Women’s History Month, Part 5
- Watch and listen to the 60-Second Civics video below. If you'd like, you can also read along using the script that appears below the quiz. Or you can turn on the video's subtitles and read while watching the video.
- Take the Daily Civics Quiz. If you get the question wrong, watch the video again or read the script and try again.
Despite being known as the "War Woman of Chota," Nanye'hi, also known as Nancy Ward, was a Cherokee woman who would work for much of her life to ensure peace between the Cherokees and the Americans, while attempting to prevent the further seizure of Cherokee land.
Script for Nanye'hi: Women’s History Month, Part 5
[INTRO MUSIC]
Nanye'hi was a Cherokee woman of the Wolf Clan who was born in 1738.
She was known as the "War Woman of Chota," having fought the Creek tribe with her husband, Tsu-la, who died in the battle.
Nanye'hi led the Cherokees to victory after her husband was killed.
She was then named a "Beloved Woman" by the tribe, a position of great honor and influence.
As a Beloved Woman, she sat on the Women’s Council of Clan Representatives and served as its leader.
She also served on the Cherokee General Council.
In contrast, European American women were not yet allowed to vote or hold political office in the thirteen American colonies.
Despite her ferocity on the battlefield, Nanye'hi, also known as Nancy Ward, worked for her entire life to ensure peace between the Cherokees and the Americans, while attempting to prevent the further seizure of Cherokee land.
At a peace treaty meeting in eastern Tennessee in 1781, she addressed the American commissioners, saying, "you know that women are always looked upon as nothing; but we are your mothers; you are our sons.
Our cry is for peace; let it continue.
This peace must last forever.
Let your women's sons be ours; our sons be yours.
Let your women hear our words."
The American commissioners were touched by Nanye'hi's words and the treaty was concluded without ceding Cherokee land, one of the few instances of this happening.
This has been 60-Second Civics, a podcast of the Center for Civic Education.
I’m Mark Gage.
[OUTTRO MUSIC]
Copyright Center for Civic Education.
